An 18-page document may be the blueprint for a new relationship between the City of Swainsboro and Emanuel County. That was the main subject of the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners July meeting this past Monday evening. Commission Chairman Hugh Foskey opened the meeting, and following the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation, the minutes of the June 19 regular meeting and the June 26 workshop were approved. In the absence of old business, the Chairman called on County Administrator Guy Singletary to present an update on a project that has been under study for some time between the County and the City of Swainsboro regarding the Recreation Department. The Administrator outlined the purpose of the study and explained the rationale of the joint effort. Singletary said the study, which resulted in the 18 page presentation, was undertaken to determine if there was a better way to maximize the efforts of the City and the County by tasking each government with specific responsibilities associated with the Recreation department that each governmental entity is best suited to handle. The City, for example, would have responsibility for maintaining various buildings and parks within the city limit and the county would capitalize on its specialized equipment and the experience of its personnel in caring for parks and ballfields in rural areas. The Administrator went on to say that this plan would make the best use of the strengths of each government and would provide cleaner management of operations while eliminating the duplication of effort. The plan will still require more details to be added as the City/County discussions continue and a plan is presented to the City. The Commissioners considered a motion to support the adoption of the plan in its current, general form. Motion was made by Commissioner Sherrod and seconded by Commissioner Thompson for adoption and was unanimously agreed to. In reports on other projects, the status of the new County Administrative Building was discussed and considered on schedule, despite minor delays resulting from the high levels of activity with various trades and subcontractors during the summer season. Also discussed was the anticipated transition to updated and more efficient communication equipment for public safety operations. This move is anxiously awaited, and it was agreed that the addition of this new equipment would be a milestone event for the County. This commpleted the meeting’s agenda, and upon motion approval, Chairman Foskey called for adjournment.
